On January 30, 2011 the Senate of VMU approved the new BA program “Cultures and Languages of East Asian Countries”.  The program is planned to be launched from September 2012 by VMU Faculty of Humanities. 

During a 4 years long program the particular attention will be paid to Chinese, Japanese and Korean history, religion, arts, folklore. The program aims to provide a deep understanding of cultural specifics of East Asian countries, as well as their traditional heritage developed in thousands of years. The students will have an opportunity to gain fluency in one of languages of the region and to acquire basic knowledge in second language. The main aim of the East Asian cultures and languages program is  to prepare qualified specialists in the field of Humanities, who would demonstrate a deep knowledge of East Asian countries’ cultural characteristics and the processes of cultural development, as well as fluency in at least one of East Asian languages, which could be used effectively in praxis. (more…)

After a half year break Korean language will be taught at VMU again. The first levels of Korean language will be taught by the lecturer of the Centre for East Asian Studies Jinseok Seo, while the third level will be taught by the visiting lecturer Dr. Jeongim Hyun from Sogang University, who is a graduate of Sorbonne University.
Korean language has been taught in Kaunas since 2007 (continously since 2008), and VMU has become the first and the only university in Baltic countries offering the courses of this exotic language. This isolated Asian language, which has no comparatives in the world, features a special writing system called hangeul. This writing system is less complicated compared to Japanese or Chinese writing systems, and therefore it is easier to master. However, Korean language has many particular grammatical constructions and numerous levels of the polite speech, thus making it complicated to learn for the Westerners.

Please contact the Centre of Foreign Languages for the availability of Korean language courses. (more…)

In the end of the year 2011 alumni of East Asian study program sent their greetings to the Centre for East Asian Studies on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the Centre. In their greeting letters the former students shared different memories, be it nostalgic or ironic, about their study years. You can find their greetings here.

Since 2009, when the first generation of students graduated, alumni of the East Asian study program make a growing generation of East Asian specialists in Lithuania. We can be proud of them, because most of them are active in social activities and have successfully found employment in Lithuania, Europe and China. Some of them continue their studies in Japanese, Chinese and Indonesian universities.

We kindly invite other alumni to share their thoughts and memories as well. Please send your letters and photos to the head of Centre for East Asian Studies Dr. Aurelijus Zykas.

In Lithuanian book stores readers can already find the Lithuanian translation of contemporary Korean writer Kim Younghua’s book  “Kas gi nutiko lifte įstrigusiam vyriškiui?” (“What’s happened to a man stuck in the elevator?”). This book can be regarded as a starting point for Lithuanian readers’ acquaintance with contemporary Korean prose. The book is translated by the lecturer of VMU Centre for Asian Studies Seo Jinseok, who is the only translator of Korean literature in Lithuania after the independence. This is the third book he has translated into Lithuanian.

Kim Young-hua is one of the most famous contemporary writers in South Korea. He is the winner of numerous literature prizes. His popularity is evident in the comments of European readers who call him “Korean Murakami”. The critics of literature emphasize the exceptional esthaeticism and eroticism of Kim Young-ha works. His books are thought to meet the expectations and taste of the young generation in Korea. The stories of his novels often remind a movie or drama. In his works one can find elements of fiction, mystery, romantic and horror literature. (more…)

The open member meeting of the project “Comparative Research of the Reception of Japanese and Korean Popular Culture in Europe” (sponsored by Suntory Foundation) will take place in Paris on December 13, 2011. The project is coordinated by Vytautas Magnus University Centre for Asian Studies. During the meeting its members will present and discuss the course of their individual research, as well as discuss on general problem and hyphothesis issues and prepare for the publication to be released next year.

The members of the meeting are kindly invited by Assoc. prof., Dr. Jean-Michel Butel from Institute National des Langues et Civilisations Orientales (INALCO). He is the head of academic claster in research on Japan. The members of the joint research are  prof. S. Formanek (Vienna university), prof. T. Kitamura (Osaka university, Japan), prof. S. Li (Pusan National university, Korea), assoc. prof. N. Onohara (Hyogo university, Japan), assoc.prof. J. Hyun (Sogang university, Korea), dr. K. Koma (VMU), dr. A. Zykas (VMU).

On 2011  November 7  the book exhibition “They restored Asian Studies in Lithuania” will be opened in Vytautas Magnus University, in the hall  in front of V. Biržiška reading room (K. Donelaičio str. 52, 2nd floor) . This exhibition hosts written, edited and translated books by Prof. A. Andrijauskas, Dr. R. Neimantas and A. Ališauskas.These three very different personalities have one important thing in common: 40 years ago they all participated in the process of restoring Asian Studies in Lithuania.

The organizers of the exhibition are Vytautas Magnus University library and Centre for Asian Studies. The exhibition will be opened until the New Year. This is one of the events, dedicated to the 10th anniversary of the establishment of the Centre for East Asian Studies. 

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On November 3 the photo exhibition was opened in the Historical Presidential Palace in Kaunas (Vilniaus str. 33). This exhibition is dedicated to the 20th anniversary of reestablished diplomatic relations between Japan and Lithuania. The exhibition will be opened until the middle of November.

The exhibition was opened by the Ambassador of Japan to Lithuania H.E. Miyoko Akashi. The opening  ceremony took place during the international symposium “Japanology within Asian Studies in Lithuania: historical perspective and present situation”, organized by VMU Centre for East Asian Studies. (more…)

Embassy of Japan to Lithuania and Vytautas Magnus University Centre for Asian Studies initiate the establishment of Japan Alumnae Association in the beginning of November this year. The aim of the association is to bring together all Lithuanian citizens who have experience of studies in Japan. It is expected that this organization will contribute to the cultivation of further interest in Japan, provide space for sharing experience and consulting people who plan to study in Japan. It is planned to organize at least one meeting of association members annually. (more…)

This year the library of Vytautas Magnus University is donated a significant collection of publications on Asian and African country topics, compiled by the famous Lithuanian orientalist Dr. Romualdas Neimantas (1939-2009) during his lifetime.

The collection consists of more than a thousand scientific and fiction books about Asian and African cultures in Russian, Lithuanian, English, Japanese and other languages. Furthermore, the donation includes an especially valuable bibliography, which was collected from 1959 till 2009 and which is the only bibliography of Lithuanian orientalistics in Lithuania. It contains the majority of articles from Lithuanian newspapers and magazines, which talk about various countries of the Orient. (more…)

The open meeting of the project “Japan in the West: a Comparative Analysis” will take place in the afternoon of November 4 at the Historical Presidential Palace of the Republic of Lithuania in Kaunas (Vilniaus str. 33, Kaunas). During the meeting six scholars from Vytautas Magnus University, Japan, France, Austria and Australia will discuss about the changing notion of Japan in the West.

The meeting is going to be held right after the international symposium of Asian studies in Lithuania. Everyone interested in these issues is invited to listen to the presentations and to take part in discussions.

The aim of the meeting is to present the results of individual research, to discuss the further tendencies for the joint research and to prepare for the publication to be released next year. The project is sponsored by the Japan Foundation. (more…)

We are happy to announce a call for papers for the 5th annual international students’ conference on Asia. The conference will take place on April 9 at Vytautas Magnus University (V. Putvinskio 23, Kaunas).

If you are interested in East Asian cultures, languages, arts, economics or other areas, this event is just for you. The conference, organized by VMU East Asian Languages ​​and Cultures students, together with the Centre for Asian Studies and the Department of Cultural Studies, is a great opportunity to share your accumulated knowledge, work or research with colleagues in this field and not only, to gain experience and improve your public speaking skills, or even get some inspirations. (more…)

We are sharing the invitation to submit abstracts for the 4th annual Student academic Conference, focusing on Asia. The conference will be held on April 24, 11:00-14:00, V. Putvinskio 23-310 in Kaunas, Lithuania.

This event, which has become an integral part of VMU Asian Week, is organized by VMU Regional Studies Asian specialization students and VMU Center for Asian Studies together with the Department of Cultural Studies. As every year, students from various fields whose work and research touch on the topic of Asia are welcome, both from the humanities, social sciences, arts and other disciplines. (more…)

The National Taiwan Library announced “Guidelines to the National Taiwan Library Fellowship for International Visiting Scholars and Students”.
The library provides Fellowship for experts and scholars to pursue their academic goals in Taiwan studies or Southeast Asia studies. Please click here to read more.

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It is time for all who are interested in East Asian cultures, languages, economics, politics and more to come together for what has become an annual student research conference, organised by the VMU East Asia Cultures and Languages students.
This conference is a great opportunity to share your knowledge, work and research with colleagues in the field, to try and improve your public speaking skills, to gain experience and to listen to presentations by like-minded people. (more…)

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Are you interested in politics of Japan? Maybe you are interested in economy of China? Maybe you are fascinated in Korean art and traditions? It does not matter in which field you are interested in, as long as it is related to East Asia we have a very interesting proposition to you. (more…)

VMU Department of International Relations informs about ongoing studies exchange and internship contests as well as “Erasmus Days’21” which are going to take place on February 17th, 18th, and 19th, during which students will be able to learn more about exchange opportunities. (more…)

Beijing Normal University entrusts the European Federation of Overseas Chinese and Chinese Associations to recruit 100 candidates for MBA and MPA studies (conducted fully in English) from all over the world. Appropriate students are welcome to sign up. (more…)

Applications for scholarships for studies in China in 2021-2022 are open. Persons who are nationals of Lithuania, EU or persons from the third countries having the right to live in Lithuania are welcome to apply.

Applications may be submitted by representatives of various fields of Lithuanian science and studies institutions/ representatives of science fields – Bachelor, Masters and PhD students. (more…)